District of Columbia
Tree Removal and Tree Service in Washington, D.C.
Washington regulates private trees by trunk circumference. Larger trees need a permit from the District Department of Transportation before removal, and the largest healthy ones cannot legally be removed at all. Measure first, then call.
Can I remove a tree on my DC property?
It depends on the trunk's circumference measured 4.5 feet above the ground. Small trees are unregulated. Mid-sized trees are Special Trees and need a paid permit. Healthy trees 100 inches or more around are Heritage Trees and cannot be removed.
- Special Tree
- Historically 44 to 99.9 inches in circumference. A 2026 amendment lowers the starting point to 40 inches.
- Heritage Tree
- 100 inches or more in circumference, roughly 32 inches in diameter. Removal is barred unless the tree is hazardous.
- Street trees
- Trees between the sidewalk and curb belong to the District. Residents may not prune or remove them.
How the Urban Forest Preservation Act works
The District's tree law is administered by the Urban Forestry Division of the District Department of Transportation. Removing a Special Tree requires a Special Tree Removal Permit, applied for through the department's online permit system, and a fee calculated per inch of circumference for a healthy tree.
A tree that an arborist documents as hazardous can be approved for removal without the fee, but the permit is still required. Mulberry, Norway maple and ailanthus are treated as exempt species for fee purposes, and again the permit itself is still needed.
The 2026 amendment that lowers the Special Tree threshold to 40 inches was scheduled to apply from October 1, 2026, subject to funding. Confirm the figure in force with the Urban Forestry Division before you rely on a measurement near the line. Fines for unpermitted removal are charged per inch and run far higher than the permit fee.
Rowhouses, alleys and small yards
Much of the District's housing is attached, with a rear yard reached only through the house or from an alley. A tree there cannot be felled. It is climbed and lowered in pieces, or lifted out by a crane set up in the alley or the street.
Street and alley setups need a public space permit and sometimes temporary no-parking signs posted in advance, which adds days of lead time. Tell the company about overhead wires, alley width and whether a neighbor's yard offers better access.
Trees often straddle property lines on narrow lots. A trunk that stands on the line is shared, and removing it without the neighbor's agreement invites a dispute even when the District approves the permit.
Common DC trees and typical concerns
| Tree | Where you see it | Typical concern |
|---|---|---|
| Willow oak and pin oak | Street plantings and front yards across the city | Large dead limbs over sidewalks and parked cars |
| Tulip poplar | Rock Creek edges, upper Northwest | Very tall. Tops and whole trees fail in thunderstorms. |
| American elm | The Mall and older avenues | Dutch elm disease. Infected trees are removed quickly to protect the rest. |
| Silver maple | Older rowhouse yards | Decayed trunks and weak forks. Often already Special Tree size. |
| Ailanthus | Alleys and fence lines | Invasive and brittle. Hosts spotted lanternfly. |
Checking your tree before you call
Measure the circumference
Wrap a tape around the trunk 4.5 feet above the ground. For a tree that forks below that height, ask the Urban Forestry Division how to measure.
Work out whose tree it is
Between sidewalk and curb is the District's. On the lot line is shared. Fully inside your lot is yours.
Note its condition
Dead tops, fungus at the base, cracks and new lean all matter. Take dated photographs.
Ask the company about the permit
An experienced DC tree service will handle the application and the arborist's hazard documentation where it applies.
Storms that shaped DC's canopy
- June 2012 derecho
- Wind gusts near 70 mph arrived with little warning on a hot Friday night and left much of the region without power for days.
- Hurricane Isabel, 2003
- Saturated ground and long-duration wind toppled thousands of mature oaks across the city and its suburbs.
- Summer thunderstorms
- The routine cause of calls. A single cell can drop large limbs across a few blocks and leave the next neighborhood untouched.
Washington, D.C. tree service questions
Can I remove a Heritage Tree in DC if it is healthy?
No. A healthy tree 100 inches or more in circumference may not be removed. It can be relocated under an approved plan, and a hazardous one can be permitted for removal with documentation.
Who trims the tree in front of my DC house?
If it stands in the strip between sidewalk and curb, the District does. Request service through 311. Pruning or removing a street tree yourself can bring a fine.
How long does a DC Special Tree permit take?
Allow several weeks for a non-emergency application. Hazardous trees can be reviewed faster when an arborist's assessment is attached. Timelines change, so ask the Urban Forestry Division.
Do Maryland or Virginia tree companies work in DC?
Many do. What matters is that the company holds a District business license, carries insurance and knows the permit process, wherever its yard is located.
Tree service in District of Columbia, by phone
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